What To Consider When Choosing A Wedding Venue
A Photographer’s Perspective
Finding the right venue for your wedding can easily become one of the most time-consuming parts of wedding planning. Besides finding a location that matches the style you’re dreaming of, it also needs to hold all your guests, be available on your date, and fit within your budget. And that’s just the high-level stuff!
Once you start digging deeper, there are even more details to think about. Things like food and beverage options, space for cocktail hour, and whether the dance floor is big enough to keep the party going all night. (Trust me, those are the things your guests truly appreciate at weddings!!)
You’ll find plenty of articles sharing what to look for when choosing a wedding venue. There are so many great tips out there! I thought it would be fun to share a few things to consider, specifically from a photographer’s perspective. If a venue doesn’t check every single box on this list, that doesn’t mean it’s a deal breaker! It simply helps you think through a few details that can make a big difference for your photos and overall wedding day experience.
1. Does the venue have a bridal suite with natural light?
I love venues that have a dedicated space for couples to get ready. It makes the morning of your wedding day much easier because you’re not adding extra travel time into your timeline to get from where you’re getting ready to the venue. Plus there’s always the chance someone forgets something important. Like the marriage license. Yes, that has happened before! 😆
Ideally, the getting-ready space should be large enough to comfortably fit your wedding party and the vendors helping you get ready. From a photography perspective, the most important detail is natural light. Windows make a huge difference in how bright, clean, and timeless your getting-ready photos look.
I’ve worked at plenty of venues where the getting-ready room had little to no natural light. In those cases, I’ll often move the bride, mom, and bridesmaids near a window or even outside for those moments so we can still get that gorgeous natural light.
If your venue doesn’t offer a getting-ready space, consider booking a spacious hotel room or Airbnb nearby. This can actually be a really fun option because it gives your wedding party extra time together the night before the wedding!
And don’t forget about the groom. He deserves a good getting-ready space too! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been shown a closet or hallway because the venue didn’t have a designated spot for the guys. 😅
2. Does the venue have a backup plan for your ceremony?
Outdoor ceremonies can be a big part of the vision for so many couples. Beautiful weather, a stunning backdrop, and being surrounded by the people you love most. It’s easy to see why!
While I love the relaxed feel of outdoor ceremonies, they do add a layer of unpredictability. Nothing makes a wedding day more stressful than rain in the forecast and everyone scrambling to figure out where the ceremony should move.
A great way to reduce that stress is by asking your venue about their rain plan. And make sure they actually show it to you! Obviously, the hope is you’ll get the beautiful outdoor ceremony you imagined. But if the weather doesn’t cooperate, you want to feel confident that the indoor option still matches the feel you’re going for.
Remember, that backup location will also appear in your wedding photos. It should still be a space you love!
3. Does the venue have outdoor options for portraits?
As a professional photographer, you can give me very little to work with, and I will still find a way to make beautiful portraits happen. I’ve photographed couples in some pretty unexpected places before, and you’d never know it from the final images!
But ideally, we want to give your portraits a little variety without adding stress to your day. When you’re touring wedding venues, take a look around the property and see if there are a few different spots for portraits. Gardens, architecture, open fields, or interesting textures can all create beautiful backdrops.
If a venue doesn’t have a lot of outdoor portrait locations, don’t panic! You can always work with your photographer to scout nearby parks, gardens, or downtown areas off-site for photos!
Just make sure to plan ahead. If you’ll be traveling off-site for portraits, that travel time should be built into your timeline. Planning early also gives your photographer time to apply for any permits that might be required for those locations.
4. Does the venue allow outside vendors?
Some venues have a required vendor list that you must choose from when booking services for your wedding day. That’s not necessarily a bad thing! Many venues build lists of trusted vendors they know will take great care of their couples.
The important thing is to ask about this early in the process. You don’t want to fall in love with a venue only to discover later that you can’t bring in your dream planner, florist, or photographer.
If a venue does require specific vendors, take some time to research them and make sure they align with the style and experience you’re hoping for. Asking questions and doing a little homework ahead of time can save you a lot of stress later!
Choosing a wedding venue is a big decision, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the options out there. Keeping these photographer-focused details in mind can help you choose a space that not only fits your vision but also sets you up for beautiful, relaxed wedding photos.
And once your venue is booked, one of the next big decisions couples make is choosing the photographer who will document it all. If you’re still searching for the right fit, you might enjoy reading 4 Tips For Choosing a Wedding Photographer You’ll Love, where I share a few things to keep in mind while comparing photographers and their work!
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